Bela Vista Hotel & Spa - Relais & Chateaux

Excellent service!!

We had a completely amazing experience at this exquisite hotel last week. The staff and hotel were simply too perfect to describe in words. The grounds of this historic mansion on a seaside cliff are breathtaking. It is right in the middle of the Rocha beach action making access to the ocean and the nightlife easily accessible. However, because the hotel, pool and spa are surrounded by a gated wall you have the exclusivity and privacy of a seaside resort. If you are heading to the Algarve, this is the place to stay!

Wonderful hotel, with the best service experience ever. High end but in no way stuffy. Great food, wonderful aspect.

This exclusive hotel surpassed our expectations in every way. The building itself is really charming and special. It’s fully restored with lovely historic details. Used to be the first hotel in the Algarve. Service is also truly exceptional. We received personalized attention at check in, taken to the lounge in one of the beautifully maintained historic spaces in the building to conduct the check in process in private and in comfort, and offered a welcome drink. The housekeeping service is outstanding, with second round/turn down service providing fresh towels, water, etc., as needed. Immaculate cleanliness. What a perk at a time when most hotels only offer service once every 3 days. The rest of the staff are also remarkable. They cater to every need. We felt like royalty. The breakfast was amazing. Probably the best I’ve had included at a hotel, and with so many options. Private stairs down to the beach. Beautiful heated pool adjacent to outdoor bar, and dining area for lunch and breakfast. Lovely decorated room. We stayed in the Blue House and had a view of the beach. Blue house only has a handful of rooms so very quiet. We didn’t hear people coming and going. Room 302 was small but adequate. Large double sink bathroom with large walk in shower. Since our room was on the beach side we didn’t hear the street noise which was loud. Gates to get in and out of the property so very secure. Only negative was our beach view contained the back side of beach restaurants which had graffiti so not a good view at all. Still, probably worth it being in that building and on that side for the quiet. Overall, DEFINITELY recommend staying here. Must dine at Vista while here! Worth the $.

Very pretty old hotel, nicely set back (and gated) from the noisy commercial area outside. Great view over the sprawling beach from the clifftop swimming pool. Very friendly staff. Clean nicely decorated room with a beach view. Air conditioning worked really well. Dinner was delicious.

We loved every minute of our stay. Meticulous attention to detail. Marvelous food at the onsite Michelin-starred restaurant—the chef actually comes to the table to prepare one of the courses. Terrific bar. The breakfast is perfect, something for everyone. Our room was spacious and modern. Cliffside setting with easy access to miles of beach. Best pool in Portimao. We did a full treatment at the onsite Occitane spa and indoor pool and that was wonderful as well. Staff takes care of every need and sets up easy transportation from train station to hotel, and then hotel to airport in Faro. We loved it so much we’ve been two years in a row. We went both years in April so I have not been to the Algarve in high tourist season, but the weather was great both times we were there. We rarely left the hotel except to walk along the main pedestrian zone, but there were other things to do, like visiting wineries in the hills, boat trips, cooking classes--all can be arranged by the hotel. Highly recommend and hope to return next year!

Bela Vista is a true Oasis in the Algarve region. Centrally located with beautiful amenities including a pool that overlooks the beach. It is a trip back in time with original Portuguese tile, wood and the main house belonging to the royal family of Portugal. They say it is the first hotel in the Algarve. The modern house in the side is where we stayed which features terraces with ocean view rooms. The real stand out is the service. They could not have been more attentive to our needs and did so with a smile. The breakfast was fantastic outside on the terrace with ocean views each morning. We had dinner in the bistro in the gorgeous bar that was sublime. Centrally located to all that the Algarve has to offer. 30 minutes to Lagos and within one hour of everything you want to reach on the coast. The one major negative was the street that it was located on was a loud party street that did not match the caliber of the hotel. The noise was manageable but I didn’t see how that is a problem. I feel bad for the hotel because they were there first. Also they should not charge 20 euro a day for parking on their own property but they did always have the car waiting with fresh water. It was perfection otherwise and is a true five star hotel but you do need to be aware of the street it is located on. It felt out of place.

One of the finest hotels we have stayed. The service is outstanding, personal, and always available. Our suite was the Owners suite and we were amazed at the fabulous decor here and thruout the hotel. The Bistro dining experience was complimented by Patricia’s friendly service.

Surely this is the jewel of Praia da Rocha. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our three-night stay as part of an anniversary trip. The staff made it very special. They were very friendly and professional. The meals and accommodations were wonderful. If you are booking a reservation, ask for an ocean view. Not all of the rooms have such a view. Also, beware of the birds on the restaurant deck during breakfast. They'll dive in for a bite if you go inside to revisit the well-stocked buffet. The pool area is very nice, and the property is a short walk to the beach.